Samoa Joe Names Three AEW Stars He Sees Breaking Out

Samoa Joe is using his platform to spotlight talent he believes deserves a bigger spotlight. In a recent interview with TV Insider, the former AEW World Champion was asked which wrestlers on the current roster he feels have untapped potential — performers fans should be paying closer attention to in the weeks ahead. Joe responded by naming three such stars he believes are primed for bigger things.

It’s a notable moment given who’s doing the talking. Joe has long been regarded as one of the most respected locker-room voices in AEW, someone whose evaluations of in-ring ability and presentation carry real weight both with fans and reportedly within the company itself. A three-time world champion with decades of experience across multiple promotions, Joe has built a reputation as a mentor-type figure backstage, frequently credited with helping younger or underutilized talent sharpen their presentation and in-ring approach.

That makes this kind of endorsement more than just a passing comment. AEW has no shortage of talent on its roster, but with a packed main event scene and limited weekly television real estate across Dynamite, Collision, and the various specials, there’s always a gap between the wrestlers getting featured prominently and those with arguably untapped star potential sitting further down the card. Joe’s comments tap directly into a conversation AEW fans have had for years — who are the next performers capable of carrying bigger roles if given the chance and the right spotlight.

The interview also touched on what more television time could mean for the names Joe mentioned, suggesting the conversation extended beyond just recognition of talent into practical questions about opportunity and exposure. AEW has shown over the years that it’s willing to push lesser-featured stars into bigger spots when the moment calls for it, sometimes based on crowd reaction or in-ring performance rather than name value alone.

Whether any of the wrestlers Joe highlighted see a notable uptick in booking or storyline investment in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but comments like these from a respected veteran tend to get noticed — both by fans scouting future stars and, potentially, by decision-makers paying attention to who the locker room believes in. For a promotion built in part on discovering and elevating new stars, insight from someone like Samoa Joe carries real currency.

As AEW continues navigating a crowded roster and competitive television landscape, keeping an eye on which performers get a rub from established veterans like Joe could offer an early signal of who’s next in line for a bigger push.